1.1.- Expressing likes and preferences.

Look at the list of verbs below to know how to express likes, dislikes and preferences:

Expressing likes:

• Like + -ing: I like going on holidays in July.
• Would like + to infinitive: I’d like to thank you for this very informative conference.
• Love + -ing: Martin loves visiting exotic places.
• Enjoy + -ing: She enjoys working in the IT department.
• Don’t mind + -ing: He doesn’t mind sharing his business experience with others.
• Be keen on + -ing: I’m keen on travelling.
• Be fond of + -ing: We have always been very fond of sponsoring sport personalities.

Expressing dislikes:

• Dislike + -ing: We dislike unecessary paperwork.
• Hate + -ing: I hate being a sales person. I’m going to look for another job.
• Can’t stand + -ing: I can’t stand going to crowded places at the weekend.

Expressing preferences:

• Prefer: It can be followed by infinitive or by –ing: I prefer sunbathing to swimming.
• Would rather (‘d rather): It is followed by infinitive without to. I’d rather concentrate on design than accountancy.

For permanent preferences prefer is used, however when expressing something someone prefers to do at a given moment would rather is used instead.